Chapter 3: Into Her Arms

The tone of disdain was obvious to everyone in the room. For a moment, both Yuan Guifang and the sister-in-law cooking outside wore slightly embarrassed expressions. 

However, considering that this was a factory director who had seen the world, it made sense that he had eaten far better things than they ever had. Their family’s brown sugar wasn’t good enough for the director’s tastes, and that was normal.

Only Yu Wei seemed completely indifferent to the director’s disdainful tone. She sat on the edge of the bed, playing with her son, unbothered.

At home, aside from the three women, there was no one else. The men were still at work in the factory and hadn’t returned. The children from the neighbouring houses peeked curiously into the room but were quickly shooed away by Yuan Guifang, who shut the door, cutting off their prying eyes.

“Director Luo is truly generous. Our brown sugar is indeed nothing special. Sorry to make you laugh at us,” Yuan Guifang said with an awkward smile. 

Although she spoke this way, she still added two more large chunks of brown sugar to Director Luo’s almost-empty enamel cup and instructed the sister-in-law to pour hot water into it.

“Hmm,” Director Luo responded coldly, sneaking a glance at Yu Wei, who remained silent and focused on playing with her son. He took a few sips from the enamel cup before getting to the main point.

“The factory is quite busy today, but I came by to ask when your family plans to hold the wedding?” Director Luo’s voice carried a dull heaviness, and with his sharp, calculating appearance, his words were uncomfortable to hear.

“I checked the calendar yesterday. According to the almanac, the fifth of this month is a good day. We’ll need to go and register a few days earlier,” he said, glancing again at the beautiful woman sitting on the edge of the bed.

Even with the bandage wrapped around her forehead and her face looking a bit pale, her exceptional beauty was undeniable. Despite being a mother already, her elegance and charm were unmistakable. 

Director Luo became even more eager to marry this woman as soon as possible.

“Also, since this is my second marriage, we’ll keep the banquet small. Just a few tables for close friends and family will suffice.”

Clearing his throat, Director Luo noticed Yu Wei still paying him no attention. The other two women, however, sat at the table, smiling at him. Encouraged, he continued.

“Regarding Yu Wei’s son, he’ll stay with his grandmother after the marriage. I already have two daughters at home, so you’ll need to take care of them when you come to live with me. Also, let’s try to have a healthy baby boy before the year is out…”

The more Director Luo talked, the more excited he became. He was completely immersed in his own plans, until Yu Wei couldn’t take it anymore and interrupted him, “Director Luo, I think you’ve misunderstood. I have no intention of marrying you.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Yuan Guifang was furious, wanting to strangle her daughter for speaking so thoughtlessly. She quickly forced a smile and turned to Director Luo, “Yu Wei hit her head and isn’t thinking straight. Don’t mind her.”

Waving her hand, she smiled so widely that her already small eyes nearly disappeared, “No worries, no worries. After the wedding, you two will live a good life together. We’ll take care of Da Bao so you won’t have to worry about him.”

At this point, Yu Wei could clearly feel the little boy in her arms tighten his grip on her hand. His small head restlessly nuzzled against her chest, and the faint, pleasant scent of milk from his body filled her senses.

Gently patting her son’s frail back to soothe him, Yu Wei’s voice, cold as ice, pierced the air, “My mind is perfectly clear. And please, Director Luo, don’t bother coming here again. My family is poor, and I’m also raising a child. I don’t deserve you.”

Luo Dongshen was initially about to get angry at Yu Wei’s bluntness, but when he heard her say this, he relaxed a bit, putting down his enamel cup with a smile and nodding in agreement.

“Your family’s situation is indeed not great, but I don’t mind. As long as you marry me and stay at home to care for the family and raise the children. As for your son…” He paused for a few seconds, frowning as he glanced at the small child nestled in Yu Wei’s arms. His tone softened, losing some of its earlier warmth. “I’m not a stingy man. I’ll give 20 yuan a month as child support, which can also be a contribution to your parents.”

Yu Wei pressed her son’s head into her chest, gently covering his ears, and coldly responded, “I will take care of my parents myself. There’s no need for an outsider like you to be involved. Also, we’re not even in a relationship, so stop flattering yourself and speak with more respect.”

What kind of nonsense was he spouting about her mother-in-law and raising children? 

He claimed not to look down on her? What a joke! He was nearly as old as her parents, and yet he had the nerve to propose marriage to her?

“Yu Wei, stop talking nonsense!” Yuan Guifang was about to step forward and smack her.

“Exactly, Yu Wei! Director Luo is such a good man. What are you even saying?” Her sister-in-law, seeing the situation take a bizarre turn, quickly tried to intervene.

“I’m not talking nonsense. I’ve made up my mind. From now on, I’ll raise my son alone. I’m not marrying anyone!” Yu Wei clutched her little boy tightly, feeling the warmth of his soft body, and her previously frustrated mood seemed to ease a bit.

What kind of ridiculous situation was this? 

They were pushing her to marry someone, and not just anyone, but a man in his 40s who was on his second marriage. She might accept a second marriage considering her situation in the 1980s, which was quite unique, but this man? He had such a condescending attitude.

She had seen all kinds of people growing up in modern times, but someone like Director Luo? He was truly one of a kind.

The thinking of people in the 1980s really was worlds apart from hers.

Fine, she wasn’t a ‘pure’ woman, and she had a child, but surely she had the right to choose to live on her own without getting married? 

Why was it so hard to believe she could live without marrying anyone?

But in this era, especially for women, not getting married was seen as irresponsible—not just to oneself, but to the whole family.

“Yu Wei, don’t make me hit you!” Yuan Guifang threatened, her eyes bulging in anger as if she would drag Yu Wei to Director Luo’s house if she argued any further.

“I said I’m not marrying, and I mean it!” No matter how patient Yu Wei could be, even she had her limits.

“What are you saying!” The sister-in-law, still outside frying food, couldn’t help but yell angrily at her.

Luo Dongshen, still seated in the chair, had already finished the sweetened water in his enamel cup, the dregs of the sugar lying quietly at the bottom. He glanced at Yu Wei, who looked displeased, and as her refusal to cooperate became more apparent, his temper started to rise.

“Just last week, you agreed to this. How can you change your mind in just a few days?” Director Luo wanted to scold her, but when he looked at her delicate, fair face, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh. After thinking for a moment, he sighed dramatically, “Fine! If that’s how it is, you can stop working in the factory’s office for now. Let me know when you’ve made up your mind!”

The underlying threat in his words was unmistakable to everyone. Yu Wei ignored him, but Yuan Guifang became even more agitated and rushed over to drag her stubborn daughter off the bed.

“You can’t be serious!”

“Yu Wei! What are you doing!” The sister-in-law, angry beyond belief, wanted nothing more than to grab something and knock some sense into Yu Wei, who was throwing away a golden opportunity.

But Yu Wei stubbornly held her ground, unmoved by their pressure.

She furrowed her brow, gently placing her son—who was looking at her with wide eyes—onto the bed behind her. At first, the little boy didn’t want to let go, stretching out his tiny, trembling hand to reach for her.

Yu Wei bent down and whispered softly in his ear, and he immediately stopped fussing, sitting quietly on the bed as if he was invisible.

Luo Dongshen had been watching her movements the entire time, his frustration growing. “Fine, we’ll leave it at that for today. I have a lot of work to attend to at the factory, so I’m leaving.”

He cast a final deep glance at Yu Wei, who was still sitting by the bed, but she didn’t even look his way.

If this were still the old days, with his status and position, he wouldn’t have to sweet-talk her like this. He could have just carried her off and made her his concubine!

Before leaving, Luo Dongshen, still unable to contain his anger, spat out one final line: “Make up your mind and let me know!”

Yuan Guifang glared at her daughter in frustration and quickly followed after him. “Director Luo, why not stay a bit longer?”

“No need!”

She forced an awkward smile. “Alright then, Director Luo, take care!”

Once Yuan Guifang saw Director Luo leave the cramped courtyard, she stormed back inside, full of anger.

“No one is eating today!”

She was so infuriated by her daughter’s lack of sense that she was practically beside herself with rage. After storming back inside, she grabbed a feather duster from the wooden cabinet and charged toward Yu Wei.

“If I don’t beat some sense into you today, I won’t be called Yuan anymore!”

Yuan Guifang was absolutely livid. Since her child had started high school, she hadn’t raised a hand to her. But now, she had lost all control. She raised the duster and brought it down hard on Yu Wei. 

“Hiss—”

Yu Wei was spacing out, and before she realised it, she was hit hard by her mother with a feather duster, causing her to grimace in pain. The wound on her head seemed to throb even more heavily.

She quickly raised her hand to block Yuan Guifang from landing another blow, but the little guy beside her got to her first, crawling into her arms and hugging her tightly.

His small eyes were tightly shut, and his determined expression made Yu Wei’s heart clench.